The Entitled (The Entitled Duet #1) - Cassandra Robbins Page 0,30
up and motions for me to give him my phone. I do. His graceful fingers glide over my phone, like a concert pianist as he texts Reed his address and phone number.
“There.” He smirks. “He should only go slightly insane when he realizes that his kitten is with me. The son of one of the biggest Colombian drug lords.”
“Oh,” is all I can say. He is so right—Reed is going to go insane. “You shouldn’t admit that about your father. People might take it the wrong way.”
He snorts bitterly. “Pretty Girl, this is my life. Why lie?”
He surprises me with that. It’s not often I hear blunt honesty. Needing to change the subject before I regret my rash decision, I ask, “How do you know Reed calls me Kitten?”
“Everyone knows. It’s pretty obvious that he is obsessed with you. I hope he’ll be cool about us being friends.” He says this like it’s a done deal. The contract has been signed in blood. In a way, it has: his blood.
“Well, he doesn’t have a say. He has tons of friends, and I never say anything.”
He simply looks at me, and I fidget with my nails.
“I am being honest, Tess.”
I look up to find his face full of lonely sincerity. “My dad seriously is a drug lord in Colombia. And when you see where I live, it’s a fortress rather than an apartment.”
“Is that supposed to scare me?” I smile bravely. “We all have crazy parents.”
“No, I hope it doesn’t scare you.” His dark eyes search my face as if looking for answers. “But it scares most people, that’s all.”
He closes his eyes again and leans his head back on the leather seat.
“Brance,” I say firmly. “I’m not a doctor, but I’m pretty sure you’re not supposed to go to sleep. As a matter of fact, that would probably be the worst thing you could do.”
“I’m not asleep.”
My phone starts ringing. I don’t need to look down to tell me who it is. I can feel him.
“Reed, Don’t frea—”
“Tess,” he cuts me off, “what the fuck?”
“Reed, I’m fine.” My voice remains steady as I try to calm him. “God… it’s a long story. Anyway, I’m going to Brance’s to help make sure he is okay. Can you guys pick me up?”
“Tess, that kid ‘Brance’ is Mateo Martinez! Do you have any idea what the hell his father does?” His breathing is harsh, and I hear him bark an order to Jay.
“Reed, stop it. He got beat up. I found him lying in his own blood in the gym bathroom. Thankfully, I was there to help.”
“Listen to me, Tess. Jay and I are on our way. We’ll be there soon.”
“Reed, for once, trust me. He’s hurt! I had to help him. I’m not in any danger with Brance. He told me right away who his dad is.”
Glancing over at Brance, I make sure he hasn’t passed out. His eyes are clear and he’s watching me, a small smile on his lips.
Lowering the phone, I say, “Is it all right if I have Reed come to your apartment? I would love for you to meet him.”
“Absolutely.” He shrugs. “I will tell the guards to let him in.”
“Are you shitting me, Tess?” Reed screams. “Did you even hear what he said? He has guards!”
“So, what? We have Jay! Look, I’m going to lose you. It looks like we are here. We’re pulling into underground parking.”
“Fine.” He hangs up on me.
I force a smile at a very curious Brance Martinez. “He gets a little domineering at times.”
“Of course he does. He’s the Great Reed Saddington!” His voice is getting dramatic, and there’s a spark of mischief in his eyes. “Heir to one of the biggest shipping companies in the world. He can have anything he wants, and he wants you, Tess.”
“We’re soul mates,” I whisper.
“Are you always so submissive with him?” What the hell? Is that what everyone thinks about me?
He holds up a hand. “I’m not trying to be an ass. Look, if I had Reed Saddington as my boyfriend…”
The limo door opens, and our conversation is brought to an end, thankfully. A bald Hispanic man leans in to help him out, then pulls back a fraction to look at poor Brance. He’s a mess: his clothes are covered in blood, his head looks awful, and his eye, which is seriously swollen and red, is rapidly changing to black.
“Jesus, Mateo, who did this?” Brance groans as the man helps him out. “I talked to